President Bola Tinubu urged to return 1963 constitution

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to return the country’s 1963 constitution and expunge the current 1999 constitution, to reflect national unity. ..Read Full Article

This appeal was made by the Movement for National Reformation (MNR), at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday.

MNR’s national vice chairman, Dr. Samuel Adai Onimisi and National Secretary, Philip Idaewor argued that the 1963 constitution remained the legitimate federal constitution that the country’s founding fathers bequeathed to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ominisi said: “We appeal to President Tinubu to give due consideration to this imperative.

“We in MNR believe that to restore the 1963 CFRN and amend it with contemporary realities will provide a legal cum stable social context in resolving the structural problems that afflict the polity.

“The broad agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria is anchored on the demand to restore and revive true federalism in Nigeria, as the document currently dubbed the 1999 Constitution as a unitary document that emerged from the military Decree 24 of 1999.

“It did not derive from a consensus of ‘We the Peoples’ of Nigeria as the basis of a republican and democratic document like the case with the 1963 CFRN.”

Also, Philip Idaewor, condemned the loss of lives and property in the #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria protest, that lasted for 10 days.

Idaewor said they stand in solidarity with the Federal Government to expedite action in bringing succour to the plight of citizens without any further delay. “The attention of the Movement for National Reformation (MNR) has been drawn to some unsavoury outburst from the constellations of the 10-day nationwide protests in Nigeria tagged #EndBadGovernance that started from August 1, 2024.

“We wish to hereby condemn the attendant loss of lives, properties, livelihoods and strident clamour for a hostile and undemocratic change of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As patriots, we in MNR stand in solidarity with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and urge it to expedite action in bringing succour to the plight of citizens without any further delay.

“It is pertinent to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

“In this regard, we in MNR wish to hereby convey our condolences to families that lost their wards during the protest, and pray for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries.

“It is regrettable that a noble civic act of protest was infiltrated by forces hostile to the sovereignty and national interest of Nigeria to inflict sorrow on the nation and families, as well as also distract government from the main thrust of the issues in contention.

“The operating 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) emphasises the cardinal relevance of the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government.